Hopkins Co. motorcyclist hit by 18-wheeler identified

A motorcyclist was killed early Wednesday morning when he was struck by an 18-wheeler on a Hopkins County highway.

Hopkins County dispatchers received a call about a wreck on Highway 19 south of FM 71 in Birthright just before 1 a.m. The community of Birthright is just north of Sulphur Springs.

According to the investigating trooper, the driver of an 18-wheeler was coming up over a small ridge when he saw something in the roadway. The driver swerved to avoid it and that's when he could tell he hit something, and called authorities.

The driver of the motorcycle, 51-year-old, Billy C. Martel was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believe Martel may have already wrecked and was lying in the roadway when the truck hit him.